Key takeaways
- The Citi Double Cash® Card and Chase Freedom Unlimited® have cash back earning opportunities without the weight of an annual fee.
- Chase Freedom Unlimited offers boosted rewards in a number of categories, making it easy to maximize cash back on everyday purchases.
- For those looking to focus on paying down previous balances, Citi Double Cash Card may be a great fit with its intro APR offer.
Citi is an advertising partner.
The Citi Double Cash® Card and Chase Freedom Unlimited® both offer simple cash back earning opportunities on all purchases for no annual fee. Double Cash is a true flat-rate card, meaning you earn the same amount of cash back no matter your purchase category. Freedom Unlimited, on the other hand, offers at least 1.5 percent cash back on every purchase and boosted rewards in some everyday categories.
The best option for you depends on your spending habits.
Main Details
| Features | Citi Double Cash Card | Chase Freedom Unlimited |
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Citi Double Cash Card vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited highlights
Here’s a closer look at the similarities and differences between these two cash back credit cards to help you determine which is a better choice for your lifestyle.
Welcome bonus winner
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The Chase Freedom Unlimited is the winner here based on value alone: Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. The Citi Double Cash offer is $200 after spending $1,500 in the first six months. The only catch with the Freedom Unlimited offer is that you won’t see a single large influx of rewards in your account. Instead your bonus rewards will accrue with each purchase you make throughout your first year until you meet the cap.
If you’re looking for a quicker return, the Citi Double Cash could be a better option even if the amount is a bit less.
Not all no-annual fee credit cards come with a welcome bonus so to have one that’s relatively easy to obtain is a nice perk.
Rewards rate winner
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The Freedom Unlimited offers more in terms of rewards compared to the Citi Double Cash. Before the card’s 2020 rewards program update, the Chase Freedom Unlimited was a standard flat-rate cash back card like the Double Cash, but it earned 1.5 percent on all purchases.
The card now earns an unlimited 5 percent cash back rate on Chase Travel, 5 percent back on Lyft purchases through March 2025 and 3 percent back on dining and drugstore purchases. Plus, you still earn the card’s staple 1.5 percent cash back rate on purchases that fall outside of its bonus categories.
While the Citi Double Cash’s up 2 percent cash back rewards rate (1 percent as you buy and an additional 1 percent as you pay) is one of the highest you’ll find for flat-rate cards, it’s hard to compete with Freedom Unlimited’s slightly lower 1.5 percent on all purchases combined with its additional everyday bonus categories.
Still, the Citi Double Cash is a good choice for cardholders who only want to maximize a flat-rate card or who need a little extra motivation to pay off their credit card bill each month. Remember, you won’t earn the full 2 percent back with the Double Cash Card until you pay for the purchases.
Annual fee winner
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Neither the Citi Double Cash nor Chase Freedom Unlimited charges an annual fee.
Some similar rewards credit cards charge annual fees of around $95 per year while offering decent perks. That’s not the case here; you can try out either card for free and still enjoy a multitude of benefits.
Intro APR on balance transfers winner
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The Freedom Unlimited offers a 0 percent introductory APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers (19.74 percent to 28.49 percent variable APR after) with a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3%, whichever is greater in the first 60 days (after that, $5 or 5 percent (whichever is greater).
If you transfer your balances to the Citi Double Cash, you’ll get one of the longest balance transfer offers available: 0 percent intro APR for 18 months. (then an 18.49 percent to 28.49 percent variable APR applies). Keep in mind you’ll also owe an intro 3 percent (minimum $5) balance transfer fee ($5 minimum; 5 percent fee after the first four months).
Intro APR on purchases winner
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As noted above, the Freedom Unlimited carries a 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months (19.74% – 28.49% Variable after), while the Citi Double Cash does not offer an intro APR offer on purchases.
Which card earns the most?
To make a decision about which card would allow you to maximize your cash back, it’s best to look at true-to-life scenarios that represent typical spending patterns.
Citi Double Cash vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited spending example
Say you spend the following in your first 12 months of owning the Freedom Unlimited:
- $200 a month ($2,400 annually) on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- $200 a month on dining ($2,400 annually)
- $50 a month on drugstore purchases ($600 annually)
- $100 a month on Lyft purchases ($1,200 annually)
- $1,115 a month on all other purchases ($13,380 annually)
In doing so, you’ll earn about $770 in cash back (in the form of 77,000 Ultimate Rewards points) thanks to the welcome bonus of an extra 1.5 percent on purchases up to $20,000 spent in the first year. Additionally, if you also have a premium Chase credit card, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve® or Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, your rewards are worth 50 percent or 25 percent more respectively when redeeming for travel through Chase.
If you spend the same amount of money ($1,665 per month) with the Citi Double Cash for a year, you’ll earn just under $400 in cash back rewards (as long as you’re paying your balances on time to earn the full 2 percent cash back rate).
Even after the first year, when the Freedom Unlimited rewards earning reverts to its regular rates, you’d still earn about $470 in cash back (47,000 Ultimate Rewards points) with this combination of spending.
Why should you get the Citi Double Cash?
The Citi Double Cash is extra beneficial to those who’ve been burdened with debt on other high-interest credit cards.
The card comes with a generous intro APR offer on balance transfers. Still, you should be prepared to end the debt cycle and pay your balances in full if you want to maximize the card’s up to 2 percent in cash back rewards and enjoy its other perks.
Additional benefits
The main appeal of Citi Double Cash is its 1 percent cash back “earn when you buy” plus 1 percent back as you pay as well as the intro APR offer, but you may qualify for extra Mastercard benefits.
Redemption options
The Citi Double Cash has a few different ways to redeem points: you can request a check for at least $25; redeem rewards for a statement credit of at least $25; or redeem for a credit to a Citi savings account, Citi checking account or to a checking account you’ve used to pay a Citi credit card bill at least twice.
Additionally, the rewards you earn are technically ThankYou points, which you can combine with ThankYou points earned with other Citi cards. Use your points to book travel or transfer them to travel loyalty programs if you have a premium Citi card.
Recommended credit score
To apply for this card, you should have a good to excellent rating on your credit history (typically a FICO score of 670 or better).
Why should you get the Chase Freedom Unlimited?
One of the reasons cardholders love the Chase Freedom Unlimited is because it offers an easily attainable bonus and plenty of benefits, plus offers a no-annual-fee option in the Chase Ultimate Rewards universe.
By owning this card, you get a stellar cash back rewards structure plus earn an extra 1.5 percent on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That’s 6.5 percent on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 4.5 percent on dining and drugstores, and 3 percent on all other purchases. If you have a large purchase planned for the near future or want to earn as many rewards as possible, the Chase Freedom Unlimited might be worth it.
Additional benefits
The Chase Freedom Unlimited offers three months of DashPass subscription services (meaning when you order food over $12 on DoorDash, you won’t pay delivery fees). After that, the next nine months of DashPass are 50 percent off (activate by Dec. 31, 2024). Plus, you’ll get 5 percent cash back rewards on Lyft rides through March 2025.
Outside of branded partner perks and Visa benefits, the Freedom Unlimited card comes with a rich platter of purchase and travel protections, including its prized trip cancellation/interruption insurance.
Redemption options
The Chase Freedom Unlimited lets you redeem your points for cash, gift cards, travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards or shopping with Amazon. Chase points don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
If you already have the Sapphire Preferred or Sapphire Reserve in your wallet, remember you can boost your rewards by combining them under those cards. That also opens the door so you can transfer your points to one of Chase’s many travel partners.
Recommended credit score
To qualify for the Freedom Unlimited, it’s best to have a good to excellent credit score of 670-850 (FICO).
The bottom line
The choice of which card is best for you – the Citi Double Cash or Chase Freedom Unlimited – may come down to your overall rewards strategy. Do you want to earn rewards in the Ultimate Rewards or ThankYou points universes?
Another consideration is whether you need the lengthier promotional balance transfer period offered by the Double Cash card.
If simply earning maximum cash back rewards is your goal, the Freedom Unlimited will offer more long-term value than the Citi Double Cash. But, if you’d rather have an uncomplicated cash rewards card with an impressive cash back rate and no categories to deal with, the Citi Double Cash may be worth it for you.
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